Fly TipsThey’ve got wingtips at Soul to...

Fly Tips

They’ve got wingtips at Soul to Sole in Laguna Beach--but these ain’t your granddaddy’s clunky shoes. Dubbed “the ‘90s woman wingtip” by one customer, these shoes by Bronx ($83) actually recall a variety of past influences, notes store co-owner Lynne Atkinson. There’s the Victorian lace-up detail, the funky platform that’s very now and the “Happy Days”-era takeoff on men’s shoes. “You can wear them with everything from suits to jeans,” she says. “It’s like a boot, which will be a very important style through next year.”

Player Days Revisited

They’re not just for listening anymore. Deejays and other music buffs have been spotted sporting compact disc singles as pendants. Smaller than album-size discs, they hang from long cords serving as shining modern-day medallions inspired by the gauche, gold ones from the Studio 54 days. “It gets a lot of attention,” says DJ Trino of Illusions in Costa Mesa. “I wear it all the time. It’s become sort of my trademark.”

Peasant Chic

A detour off the beaten track can turn up the greatest finds. Take the loose-fitting cotton dresses at El Faisan in downtown Santa Ana’s Fiesta Marketplace. Hand embroidered in a palette of brights, these festive frocks are worn by las campesinas , the women of the Mexican pueblos. But they’re too beautiful just for daily chores. Apparently locals know this, because El Faisan sells out during Mexican holidays, says a saleswoman. Pair it with a neat ‘do and red lips to get a fashionable look inspired by artist Frida Kahlo . . . mono-brow optional.

A Tank Full

A knit pick that won’t pick your pocket? Check out the cotton tanks at Pic N Save for about $3 in white, black and a rainbow of pastels. Reminiscent of European undershirts for girls, these soft tops are perfect alone on a hot summer day or under a sweater when temperatures dip. A salesman notes that customers have been buying a half dozen or more at a time.